Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

Madeira is wine that has been deliberately heated. The casks carry that treatment with them, and it is a quite different sweetness from sherry — more caramelised, less raisiny. On the bright Glencadam spirit it makes for an unusual combination.

The expert's description

Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a finishing period in madeira casks, bottled at 46%.

Madeira is made by heating the wine over an extended period, which gives it a dry, nutty and lightly burnt character. The casks therefore add dried fruit, honey and spice rather than the dark syrup you get from Pedro Ximénez. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured and carries no age statement.

The Glencadam spirit is bright and fruit-driven, and precisely for that reason it takes a cask finish without disappearing. The madeira settles as a layer of rich fruit over the softer core, and the result is rounder than the core release without turning heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and honey, with spice and a lightly burnt sweetness. Behind it the bright Glencadam orchard fruit keeps things fresh.

Palate

Rich and fruity. Dried apricot, honey and nuts, with a soft, round sweetness and a spice that arrives late. The 46% gives the whisky enough body to carry the cask.

Finish

Medium and soft. Honey and dried fruit sliding out into a dry, lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finishing period in madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Madeira Wine Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349706588

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Spiced · Soft · Wine-finished

Did you know?

The Glencadam pot stills have lyne arms angled upwards rather than down. That forces more of the vapour back into the still, and the extra reflux is why the spirit comes out so bright and fruit-driven.

See our full range of Glencadam

Frequently asked questions about Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish

What is madeira, and what do the casks do to the whisky?

Madeira is a Portuguese fortified wine that is heated during production. That process gives the wine a dry, nutty and lightly burnt character, so the casks add dried fruit and spice rather than the heavy sweetness you get from sherry casks.

How does it differ from the Glencadam sherry-finished releases?

The madeira is drier and nuttier. The PX release runs to dark chocolate and syrup, while the madeira stays at the brighter end with dried apricot and honey. They are two different ways of rounding off the same spirit.

Why is there no age on the bottle?

Because the release is built by taste rather than by a fixed number of years. The blender can use both younger and older casks as long as the result hits the profile the finish is meant to have. It is common for finish releases.

Is it sweet?

Moderately. There is a clear sweetness from the madeira, but it is dry rather than syrupy, and the Glencadam citrus and orchard fruit cut through it. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is it peated?

No. Glencadam uses unpeated malt across the range. The lightly burnt note comes from the madeira cask, not from peat.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature. At 46% water is not needed, and the chill from ice shuts down the dried fruit. Give it five minutes in the glass so the madeira notes have time to open.

Does it work with food?

It performs well after a meal alongside something nutty or dried fruit — a fig tart, toasted almonds or a mature hard cheese. The dry madeira sweetness meets the food without drowning it.